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Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The available toxicological data do not indicate that exposure to a high concentration of nickel metal or soluble nickel compounds could impede escape within 30 minutes. For this draft technical standard, therefore, respirators have been selected on the basis of the assigned protection factor afforded by each device up to 2,000 ´ the OSHA PEL (2,000 ´ 1 mg Ni/m3 is 2,000 mg Ni/m3); only the “most protective” respirators are permitted for use in concentrations exceeding 2,000 mg Ni/m3.

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:

Lethal concentration data:

Species

Reference

LC50

LCLo

Time

Adjusted 0.5-hrLC (CF)

Derived value

NiB2F8Mouse

NDRC 1943

—–

530 mg/m3

10 min

92 mg Ni/m3 (0.69)

9.2 mg Ni/m3

Lethal dose data:

Species

Reference

Route

LD50(mg/kg)

LDLo(mg/kg)

Adjusted LD

Derived value

NiB2F8Rat

NRC 1953

oral

—–

500

844 mg Ni/m3

88 mg Ni/m3

NiORat

FDRL 1983

oral

—–

5,000

27,504 mg Ni/m3

2,750 mg Ni/m3

NiRat

FDRL 1983

oral

—–

5,000

35,000 mg Ni/m3

3,500 mg Ni/m3

NiG. pig

Gekkan Yakuji 1980

oral

—–

5

35 mg Ni/m3

3.5 mg Ni/m3

Ni(NH4)2(SO4)2Rat

FDRL 1984

oral

400

—–

573 mg Ni/m3

57 mg Ni/m3

NiC4H6O4Rat

Haro et al. 1968

oral

350

—–

814 mg Ni/m3

81 mg Ni/m3

NiC4H6O4Mouse

Haro et al. 1968

oral

410

—–

953 mg Ni/m3

95 81 mg Ni/m3mg Ni/m3

NiCl2Rat

Itskova et al. 1969

oral

105

—–

333 mg Ni/m3

33 mg Ni/m3

Other animal data: It has been reported that pulmonary inflammation, degeneration of the bronchiolar mucosa, and atrophy of the olfactory epithelium resulted in rats and mice exposed to nickel sulfate hexahydrate at concentrations ranging from 0.7 to 13.5 mg Ni/m3 for 6 hours/day for 12 days [Benson et al. 1988].

Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.

Revised IDLH: 10 mg Ni/m3Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for nickel compounds is 10 mg Ni/m3 based on acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [NDRC 1943]. This may be a conservative value due to the lack of relevant acute inhalation toxicity data for workers. [Note: NIOSH recommends as part of its carcinogen policy that the “most protective” respirators be worn for nickel compounds at concentrations above 0.015 mg Ni/m3.]